Monday, June 30, 2008

Pattern: Sleeveless Wrap Sweater from Blue Sky Alpacassize: 34 (It is a little big on Z)Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton in GlacierMods: While knitting the waist band and skirt it has you do a short row every 4 rows. On the 5th row it doesn't say to pick up the wrapped stitch but you need to do that or it shows on the skirt. Otherwise knit to pattern.Began June 23, done June 28.

Summer of Socks has begun. I have my first pr. done:

Pattern: My version of the Twisted Rib.

Yarn: Plymouth Happy Feet. I threw the band away and forgot to record the colorway. They are navy, burgundy and olive green.

This was my first toe up sock. I won't show close ups of the heel. I need some work on the short row heel. I choose toe up because I wanted to use all the yarn and make the longest socks possible. They grew quite a bit after blocking but they are the softest socks I own to date!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Pattern: Bed Jacket from Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael.Size: I knit 39 in a slightly larger gauge to get a 42 bust.Yarn: Cascade Sierra (80% cotton, 20% wool) 7 skeins in ivoryModifications: Other than the gauge, I knit the sleeves to 16.5 inches, 3 inches longer so the flare fell mid arm rather than right above the elbow. No other modifications.

This is the best sleeve seaming I have ever done.

The next sweater is my first paid production knitting job. This is a sample made for Blue Sky Alpaca yarn Company modeled by Z.

Pattern: Fitted Tank

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton in Fawn - 3 skeins

Size: Small

Mods: None, knit as written

I had a little trouble with the neckline. You bind off the neck stitches, pick up stitches along the neck edge and then bind them off on the purl row. Essentially you have two bind off rows next to each other. The neck edge bind off doesn't cover the bind off stitches on the inside. It took 5 tries but I finally got one that looked OK and a good blocking also helped. If I were making this for myself, I would crochet the neckline and sleeves rather than the pick up and bind off the pattern calls for.

More production knitting happening this week. Pictures to follow when finished.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

This is a picture heavy post to catch up on the month of May that imploded on me.

The weather for the Tulip Festival turned out nicer than predicted. Cold but not rainy. We sat under sleeping bags and watched the parade.

The tulips were a little behind but a few beds were in full bloom. Pella is so beautiful this time of year!

We spent the evening at my parents helping my Uncle celebrate his 60th Birthday. Did you know it takes 4 brothers to grill hot dogs?

We had a bit of a family crisis the middle of the month that sucked time and energy, soccer started for two children, and Vince had a businessconference for a few days. He was home one day and the next we left for San Diego, California to visit his sister, Sheryl and nephew, Johnny.

We sat on the front patio and enjoyed the sun every morning for breakfast.

We ate as much authentic Mexican food as we could pack in in 4 days.

We walked the beach by Hotel Del.

Visited Balboa Park.

Had a nice Sunday brunch at Seaport Village.

Walked along the San Diego Marina. These kites were HUGE.

We got lost on the upper levels of Horton Plaza.

Watched the seals at La Jolla.

And generally just enjoyed each other. It has been 2 years since we have seen these silly people and that is WAY TOO long.

We are now back in cool, rainy Minnesota. This is the final few days of school. We are busy with graduation for Filip, out exchange student. He will depart on in less than two weeks...but we aren't talking about that right now. It makes us too sad.